Islamabad: A new report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Migration Agency (IOM) provides insights into the ongoing arrest, detention, and deportation activities involving Afghan nationals in Pakistan, under the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan” initiated by the Ministry of Interior.
According to The UN Refugee Agency, the report titled “UNHCR-IOM Pakistan Flash Update #24” covers the period from 15 September 2023 to 13 July 2024 and indicates a significant decrease in arrests and deportations since their peak in late 2023. Despite this, the majority of detentions still involve Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented Afghan nationals, with Balochistan province recording the highest number of incidents.
The analysis highlights that 96 percent of the arrests from 30 June to 13 July 2024 involved ACC holders or undocumented individuals, with Balochistan accounting for 88 percent of these detentions. Key districts like Chagai, Pishin in Balochistan, and Karachi in Sindh have seen the highest numbers of arrests.
The report also notes a lack of historical data on the arrest and detention of ACC holders and undocumented Afghans prior to 2023, suggesting underreporting in the figures. The recent extension of the validity of the PoR card until 30 June 2025 by the Pakistani government is also documented, signaling ongoing changes in the legal environment for Afghan nationals in the country.